Ronnie Lott, left, joins former Raiders (and USC alums) Rodney Peete and Marcus Allen at an Oakland City Council meeting in Dec., 2016 about a proposal to keep the Raiders in Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

“These are high-integrity people who know and love college football,” CFP executive director Bill Hancock said in a statement. “Each one of them has built a distinguished career based on diligence and doing things the right way. We’re delighted that they will be joining the committee.”

The 13-member committee is tasked with selecting the four best teams for each season’s College Football Playoff and releases a final top-25 ranking at the end of the regular season.

Hocutt is to be replaced as the selection committee chairman by Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens, a current member and the Pac-12 Conference representative.

The committee is made up of administrators, athletic directors, former coaches and players, and a retired media member.

Lott was named a unanimous All-American at USC as a senior in 1980 when he intercepted eight passes, returning one for a touchdown, and helped the Trojans win a national championship in 1978, their last until a pair of back-to-back titles under Pete Carroll in 2003 and 2004. He later played more than a decade in the NFL, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers, winning four Super Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Lott, 58, currently works in business in San Francisco and as an analyst for the Pac-12 Networks.

In recent years, Lott had remained connected with USC. He was among several former players, including 1981 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen, Reggie Bush, Anthony Muñoz and Willie McGinest, to attend the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State last month.

Lott should not, though, have to recuse himself if the Trojans are discussed by the committee, according to Hancock, the executive director.

The CFP’s recusal policy only prevents members from discussing or voting on a certain team if they or an immediate family member is currently employed or receiving compensation from the school.

Former USC athletic director Pat Haden was on the inaugural CFP committee until he stepped down because of health issues in 2015. Haden, then a university employee, was required to recuse himself when the Trojans were up for discussion.

Joey Kaufman is the USC beat writer for the Southern California News Group. Since joining the Orange County Register in 2015, he has also covered Major League Baseball and UCLA athletics. His work has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors and Football Writers Association of America. Kaufman grew up in beautiful downtown Burbank.

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